TPG Special Situations Partners (TSSP), the credit arm of TPG, and SMi-Enerpro, a division of The SM Group Inc., have announced the launch of a new joint venture to provide financing for the SMi-Enerpro energy efficiency platform.

Forward momentum on the Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency bill ground to a halt Monday after Senate Democrats and Republicans failed to reach an agreement on the bill’s amendments.

Upon its first birthday, the Bullitt Center in Seattle announced that it has significantly exceeded its energy performance goals, even when accounting for growing occupancy over its first 12 months of operation.

Smartcool Systems Inc. has partnered with smartACR to develop an automated energy management system for small commercial buildings that integrates Smartcool’s software with smartACR’s wireless control sensors and cloud-based thermostat for air conditioning, heat pump, and refrigeration systems.

Mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, and their ability to connect wirelessly have helped drive interest and awareness of home automation products and services, according to The NPD Group’s Home Automation Study.

In the global market for building energy management software, six suppliers — Envizi, eSight, IBM, Schneider Electric, Siemens, and Verisae — are market leaders, according to independent analyst firm Verdantix.

Optimum Energy, a provider of data-driven HVAC energy optimization for enterprise facilities, has announced the launch of its OptiCx™ Platform. The company said the platform delivers holistic energy management with the option to start with “essential” energy optimization of HVAC systems.

Reliant has teamed up with EnTouch Controls to bring energy management systems to Texas small and medium-sized businesses. Through an easy-to-use controller, business customers have the potential to reduce their electricity usage by 15 percent, according to EnTouch.